DUKE 
UNIVERSITY 


LIBRARY 


AN 

M 


1  ge 


ADDRESS, 


DELIVERED  IN 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 


AT  WILMINGTON,  N.  C, 


ON  SABBATH,  JULY  4th,  1847, 


BY  REV.  I.  O.  STEDMAN 


WILMINGTON: 

THOMAS  LORING,  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTER. 
1847. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: 

The  undersigned,  in  obedience  to  a  spontaneous  expression 
of  the  wishes  and  feelings  of  your  congregation,  beg  leave,  as  their 
committee,  and  on  our  own  behalf,  to  express  to  you  the  high  gratifi- 
cation, as  well  as  the  profound  interest  excited  by  your  discourse, 
delivered  yesterday  forenoon,  on  the  occasion  of  our  National  Birth- 
day, and  to  request  that  you  will  furnish  a  copy  for  publication ;  be- 
lieving that  a  wide  dissemination  of  the  historical  facts,  and  more 
especially  the  principles  advocated  in  it,  cannot  fail  to  be  productive 
of  much  good. 

Very  respectfully,  &c, 

WM.  O.  JEFFREYS. 
O.  G.  PARSLEY. 

To  Rev.  J.  O.  Stedman.  , 


The  following  address  was  prepared  for  the  special  instruction 
of  the  people  of  my  charge,  and  without  the  remotest,  view  to  publi- 
cation. I  feel  bound,  however,  though  with  unfeigned  diffidence,  to 
yield  to  the  "  spontaneous  expression  of  the  wishes  and  feelings  of 
my  congregation,"  and  to  submit  the  discourse  to  their  disposal,  hop- 
ing, with  them,  that  it  may  be  "  productive  of  much  good."  To  them 
it  is  most  respectfully  and  affectionately  dedicated.  • 
I  will  only  add,  that  for  a  number  of  the  facts,  and  for  some  of  the 
sentiments  expressed,  I  freely  acknowledge  myself  indebted  to  the 
"  Sketches  of  North  Carolina,"  a  most  interesting  and  instructive 
volume,  recently  presented  to  the  public,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Henry 
Foote. 

J.  O.  STEDMAN. 

Wilmington,  N.  C,  Juty  16,  1847. 


WE  FLOWERS  COLLECTION 


ADDRESS. 


PSALM  XX.  7 — 9.  "  Some  trust  in  chariots  and  some  in  horses  :  but  we  will 
remember  the  name  of  the  LORD  our  GOD.  They  are  brought  down  and  fallen  : 
but  we  are  risen,  and  stand  upright.  Save,  LORD  :  Let  the  King  hear  us  when 
we  call." 

I  have  selected  this  passage  of  Scripture  more  as  a  motto 
than  a  text.  And  I  have  done  so,  with  a  view  to  the  intro- 
duction of  such  reflections  as  may  seem  appropriate  to  the 
present  occasion. 

We  are  permitted  this  day  to  witness  the  return  of  the  na- 
tion's Jubilee,  and  are  called  upon  to  rejoice  in  the  71st  anni- 
versary of  the  independence  of  a  great  and  free  people.  We 
are  reminded  this  day  of  that  noble  declaration  of  rights,  adop- 
ted by  the  Representatives  of  the  United  States,  in  general 
Congress  assembled,  July  4th,  1776  ;  in  which  declaration 
they  solemnly  announce  they  "  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evi- 
dent :  that  all  men  are  created  equal ;  that  they  are  endowed 
by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights  :  that  among 
them  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness  ;  that  to 
secure  these  rights,  governments  have  been  instituted  among 
men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned ;  that  whenever  any  form  of  government  becomes  de- 
structive of  these  ends,  it  is  the  right  ot  the  people  to  alter  or 
abolish  it,  and  to  institute  new  government,  laying  its  foun- 
dation on  such  principles,  and  organizing  its  powers  in  such 
form,  as  to  them  shall  seem  most  likely  to  effect  their  safety 
and  happiness." 

The  annual  recurrence  of  the  day  that  witnessed  the  adop- 
tion of  such  a  declaration  as  this,  in  support  of  which  the 
high-minded  and  indomitable  men  who  composed  that  As- 


4 


sembly,  mutually  pledged  to  each  other  their  lives,  their  for- 
tunes, and  their  sacred  honor,  sends  a  thrill  of  proud  delight 
.  to  the  heart  of  every  true  American  Patriot ;  it  kindles  the 
eye  of  the  aged  with  new  fire,  and  causes  the  hearts  of  the 
young  to  pulsate  quick  and  strong  under  the  impulse  of  high, 
exulting  and  generous  emotions.  We  think  of  it  as  a  day 
that  tried  men's  souls  ;  when  great  and  good  men,  having 
suffered  beyond  all  possible  endurance,  were  determined  to  be 
free,  and  to  "  renounce  forever  their  unfeeling  oppressors 
when,  appealing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  world  for  the 
rectitude  of  their  intentions,  they  dissolved  all  political  con- 
nexion between  themselves  and  the  people  or  parliament  of 
Great  Britain,  and  held  them,  as  they  held  the  rest  of  man- 
kind, enemies  in  war,  in  peace  friends.  They  felt  that  the 
road  to  happiness  and  to  glory  was  open  equally  to  all,  and 
were  determined  to  pursue  it  or  die  in  the  attempt. 

"We  think,  too,  of  the  sacrifices  that  were  necessary  to  be 
made — of  the  sorrows,  blood,  lives,  and  treasures,  that  had  to 
be  expended  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  object.  In  fact, 
almost  innumerable  recollections  crowd  thick  and  fast  upon 
our  minds,  and  fill  them  to  overflowing.  And  if  we  are  not 
lost  to  all  sense  of  our  obligations  to  Him  who  controls  the 
destinies  of  nations  as  of  individuals,  we  shall  not  be  wanting 
in  expressions  of  gratitude  to  the  Giver  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift,  for  his  merciful  interposition  in  our  behalf.  This, 
to  the  true  Christian,  is  the  sweetest  and  best  of  all  the  remi- 
niscences that  flow  through  the  soul  like  refreshing  and  invi- 
gorating waters.*  It  was  not  for  mere  political  rights  and  priv- 
ileges that  our  forefathers  contended,  but  in  close  and  insepa- 
rable connexion  with  these  were  the  great  principles  of  free- 
dom of  conscience  in  matters  of  religion.  It  was  on  account 
of  these  more  particularly  that  the  great  majority  of  them  left 
their  native  homes,  and  came  to  what  was  then  the  great 
howling  wilderness  of  the  West.  They  were  driven  by  the 
intolerance  of  religious  bigotry  in  the  old  world,  to  seek  an 
asylum  in  this,  where  they  might  sit  under  their  own  vine 
and  fig-tree,  and  worship  in  all  freedom  and  security.  In 


5 

defence  of  these  principles,  they  were  willing  to  expend  all 
their  treasures,  and  to  submit  to  any  amount  of  sacrifice  and 
suffering.  In  the  language  of  another,  "  they  always  felt  it 
better  to  endure  all  the  protracted  miseries  of  a  Revolutionary 
struggle  than  fail  to  enjoy  liberty  of  person,  property  and  con- 
science. Their  ideas  of  religious  liberty  gave  a  coloring  to 
their  political  notions  on  all  subjects  ;  perhaps  it  is  more  just 
to  say,  were  the  foundations  of  their  political  creed.  The 
Bible  was  their  text-book  on  all  subjects  of  importance." — 
Their  conscience,  the  feelings  of  their  hearts  and  the  actions 
of  their  lives,  were  all  influenced,  directed,  and  controlled  by 
the  principles  of  this  blessed  Book,  and  the  strict  doctrines  of 
the  reformation,  in  which  they  had  been  religiously  trained. 
And  they  were  only  carrying  out  the  principles  of  the  Bible, 
and  maintaining  the  rights  guarantied  them  by  the  God  of 
the  Bible  and  of  conscience,  in  their  resistance  to  tyranny. — 
The  same  principles,  carried  out  under  like  circumstances, 
will  produce  like  results.  They  are  the  same  in  all  climes 
where  the  Bible  is  received  and  studied,  and  to  them  we  look, 
under  God,  for  the  redemption,  regeneration,  and  disenthral- 
ment  of  the  world.  What  they  could  and  would  do,  had 
clearly  been  made  manifest  in  the  old  world,  before  the  remo- 
val of  their  stern  and  uncompromising  advocates  to  this  wes- 
tern hemisphere,  much  to  the  annoyance  and  discomfiture  of 
intolerant  and  persecuting  Kings  and  Parliaments.  The  soil 
of  America  was  adapted  to  and  prepared  for  their  fuller  and 
more  rapid  extension.  It  was  here  that,  under  the  protection 
and  guidance  of  Divine  Providence,  a  vine  was  to  be  planted, 
like  that  which  was  brought  out  of  Egypt,  which  was  to  take 
deep  root,  and  fill  the  land.  The  hills  were  to  be  covered 
with  the  shadow  of  it ;  she  was  to  send  out  her  boughs  unto 
the  sea,  and  her  branches  to  the  rivers  ;  thousands  were  to 
stand  at  a  distance  and  admire  her  growing  beauty  ;  while 
multitudes,  driven  by  oppression,  or  eager  to  obtain  in  this  fa- 
voured heritage  the  security  and  blessings  they  could  never 
have  enjoyed  at  home,  were  to  hasten  to  seek  shelter  under 
its  spreading  foliage.  Ten  thousand  voices  from  almost  every 


6 


nation  have  been  heard  loudly  to  acclaim,  "  we  will  go  with 
you  ;  for  we  have  heard  that  you  have  a  goodly  portion,  and 
that  the  Lord  has  spoken  good  concerning  you." 

Is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  our  fathers  should  so  carefully 
watch  and  nourish  this  young  tendril  of  liberty,  and  should 
be  jealous  of  encroachment  upon  the  branch  of  the  vineyard 
Avhich  the  Lord  was  making  strong  for  himself.  When  the 
enemy,  in  a  spirit  of  reckless  oppression,  attempted  to  break 
down  her  hedges,  to  pluck  her  ripening  fruit,  and  to  put  fire 
to  her  green  and  flourishing  branches,  and  thus  to  lay  waste 
and  devour  her.  the  sound  of  indignation,  like  the  sound  of 
many  waters,  burst  forth  from  every  quarter,  and  a  feeling  of 
manly  independence  and  resistance  to  tyranny  manifested 
itself  in  almost  every  breast.  And  having  received  the  last 
stab  to  the  agonizing  affection  that  bound  them  to  the  mother 
country,  they  were  impelled,  in  the  strength  and  firmness  of 
a  manly  spirit,  to  "  acquiesce  in  the  necessity  that  denoun- 
ced their  separation." 

There  was  a  vast  amount  of  Christian  heroism  embodied 
in  this  determination  ;  but  it  was  in  defence  of  freedom  of 
conscience  in  matters  of  religion  as  well  as  of  politics  ;  and 
this  gave  them  confidence  and  hope,  and  nerved  them  with 
energy  to  the  successful  accomplishment  of  their  grand  and 
daring  exploits.  Under  any  circumstances,  a  true  patriot 
must  feel  "  Duke  et  decorum  est  pro  P atria  mori"  it  is 
sweet  and  honourable  to  die  for  one's  country.  How  much 
more  is  this  the  case,  when,  with  country,  is  connected  the 
defence  of  religious  freedom  and  the  cause  of  God.  Such  was 
the  fact  in  regard  to  the  pioneers  of  this  "  land  of  the  free  and 
home  of  the  brave."  And  on  this  account,  mainly,  the  most 
prominent  and  efficient  actors  in  the  Revolutionary  struggle 
never  allowed  themselves  to  waver  even  for  a  moment.  It 
matters  not  whether  we  regard  the  New  England  Puritans^ 
or  the  Scotch,  or  Scotch-Irish  ol  the  middle  and  southern 
States,  their  principles  were  the  same  in  all  their  essential 
features.  They  were  the  principles  ol  civil  and  religious  lib- 
erty, which  are  founded  on  the  Word  of  God,  and  embodied 


7 


in  their  creeds  and  confessions.  They  stood  upon  the  same 
Platform,  adopted  the  same  formularies,  and  dilligently  taught 
the  same  doctrines  and  statutes  to  their  children,  publicly  and 
in  private.  Under  their  influence,  human  society  has  hap- 
pily been  formed  at  the  East ;  they  have  struck  their  roots 
deep  in  the  soil  of  the  South,  and  sent  out  their  vigorous 
shoots  in  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi ;  and  as  these  are 
the  principles  for  which  our  ancestors  fought,  and  bled,  and 
died,  and  by  which  we  have  been  sustained  thus  far,  we  must 
most  sacredly  cherish  them  ourselves,  and  order  our  children 
after  us  according  to  them,  and  seek  to  have  them  propagated 
throughout  the  whole  extent  of  our  expansive  territory  ;  or, 
as  I  shall  more  fully  show  hereafter,  we  are  inevitably  lost  as 
a  people,  great,  growing,  and  boastful  as  we  may  now  be. 

Then,  if  the  facts  be  such  as  1  have  stated  them,  we  should, 
in  the  celebration  of  this  day,  give  a  prominent  place  to  those 
feelings  of  gratitude  and  praise  which  are  undoubtedly  due 
for  the  distinguished  blessings  which  a  kind  Providence  has 
conferred  upon  us.  The  Lord  looked  down  from  Heaven, 
and  beheld,  and  visited  the  vine  which  had  been  planted  in 
the  wilderness,  under  his  guidance.  At  the  rebuke  of  his 
countenance,  our  enemies  fled.  The  British  Lion  was  made 
to  cower  before  the  American  Eagle.  The  people  clapped 
their  hands  in  token  of  the  gladness  of  their  hearts  ;  a  shout 
went  up  to  Heaven  with  the  voice  of  triumph  :  The  Lord 
Most  High  had  shown  himself  terrible,  a  great  King  over  all 
the  earth  :  He  had  subdued  the  people  under  us,  and  chosen 
oui  inheritance  for  us.  Therefore  let  us  sing  praises  to  God ; 
sing  ye  praises  with  understanding.  God  sitteth  upon  the 
throne  of  his  holiness.  He  maketh  wars  to  cease  to  the  end 
of  the  earth  ;  he  breaketh  the  bow  and  cutteth  the  spear  in 
sunder  ;  he  burneth  the  chariot  in  the  fire.  Be  still  and  know 
that  I  am  God  :  I  will  be  exalted  among  the  heathen,  I  will 
be  exalted  in  the  earth.  The  Lord  of  Hosts  is  with  us  ;  the 
God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge.  Then  let  us  inscribe  the  name 
of  God  upon  our  banners  ;  and  as  they  float  upon  every  pass- 
ing breeze,  let  every  star  and  stripe  remind  us  of  our  vast  in- 


8 


debtedness  to  Him  who  mleth  among  the  nations,  and  taught 
our  hands  to  war  and  our  ringers  to  fight. 

It  is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  the  celebration  of  this  day 
should  be  connected,  as  it  usually  is,  with  so  much  of  revelry 
and  intemperance.  Such  a  method  of  celebrating  it,  is  suited 
more  to  a  nation  of  infidels,  than  to  a  nation  who  are  proud 
of  institutions  and  immunities  which  are  founded  on  the 
"Word  of  God,  and  without  whose  acknowledged  interposition 
and  continual  aid,  they  could  not  have  been  secured. 

Intemperance  is  doubtless  one  of  the  crying  sins  of  this  na- 
tion, and  it  is  probably  more  alarmingly  and  shamelessly  in- 
dulged in  at  the  time  of  our  annual  Jubilee  than  at  any  other 
period.  It  is  a  burning  disgrace  that  the  old,  the  middle- 
aged,  and  the  young,  should  then  give  themselves  up  to  un- 
bridled licence,  and  run  into  every  excess,  mingling  the  wine 
that  mocks  when  it  is  red  and  turneth  itself  in  the  cup,  and 
the  strong  drink  that  is  raging,  and  leads  them  to  trample 
under  foot  the  laws  of  order,  of  morals,  and  of  religion.  Our 
great,  object  should  be,  to  keep  alive  the  profoundest  senti- 
ments and  feelings  of  our  people  towards  the  great  God  of 
Heaven  and  earth,  whose  hand  so  manifestly  has  been  with 
us  from  the  beginning  ;  and  to  pervade  the  nations  with  the 
same  spirit  and  the  same  characters  that  achieved  our  inde- 
pendence and  happiness. 

There  is  no  class  of  persons  more  exposed  to  temptation 
and  real  danger  on  such  occasions,  than  that  of  young  men, 
Alas,  that  they  should  have  such  an  example  set  them  by 
those  who  are  their  superiors,  in  years  and  experience  at 
least,  if  not  in  wisdom  and  manly  decorum.  According  to 
what  is  written  in  Job,  "  Days  should  speak  and  multitude 
of  3'ears  should  teach  wisdom  ;  but  great  men  are  not  always 
wise  ;  neither  do  they  yet  understand  judgment."  Our  young 
men  are  the  great  conservators  of  the  interests  and  glory  of 
the  nation.  They  can  make  our  country  a  blessing  or  a 
curse.  Upon  them  devolves,  under  God,  the  momentous  re- 
sponsibility of  sustaining  the  foundations  of  social  order  and 
happiness,  and  of  preserving  inviolate  and  unsullied  our  in- 


9 


valuable  institutions,  and  of  transmitting  them  unimpaired  to 
those  who  shall  come  after  them.  To  this  end,  they  must  be 
intelligent  and  virtuous  :  For  intelligence  and  virtue  are  the 
bulwark  and  defence  of  a  free  people  ;  without  them,  liberty 
is  only  a  name,  and  our  dearly-bought  and  much-loved  insti- 
tutions will  prove  "  the  baseless  fabric  of  a  vision." 

Let  our  young  men,  then,  receive  this  day  a  lesson  of  time- 
ly admonition.  Already,  we  have  been  opprobriously  termed 
a  nation  of  drunkards.  Whether  true  or  false,  it  is  for  them 
to  wipe  away  the  foul  stain  of  the  charge,  by  showing  them- 
selves to  be,  at  all  times  and  in  all  places,  the  firm  and  un- 
flinching advocates  of  sobriety  and  decorum.  Let  me  earn- 
estly entreat  you,  young  gentlemen,  to  prove  by  your  acts 
that  you  are  worthy  descendants  of  those  noble  sires,  who 
made  it  their  first  and  highest  duty  to  fear  and  honor  God, 

Come  out  from  among  the  vicious  and  profane,  and  be  ye 
separate.  Touch  not,  taste  not,  handle  not,  the  poisonous  be* 
verage,  which  will  palsy  your  physical  and  intellectual 
strength,  and  make  a  wreck  of  your  moral  capabilities.  I 
speak  unto  you  more  particularly,  young  men,  because  ye  are 
strong,  and  may  now,  while  the  power  of  depraved  habit  has 
not  rivetted  its  fetters  upon  you,  overcome  the  wicked  one. — 
There  is  a  great  deal  of  wisdom  and  force  in  the  remarks  of 
Archbishop  Tillotson,  that  "  all  vice  stands  upon  a  precipice  ; 
to  engage  in  any  sinful  course  is  to  run  down  the  hill.  If  we 
once  let  loose  the  propensities  of  our  nature,  we  cannot  gather 
in  the  reins  and  govern  them  as  we  please  ;  it  is  much  easier 
not  to  begin  a  bad  course,  than  to  stop  it  when  begun.  Our 
corrupt  hearts,  when  they  are  once  set  in  motion,  are  like  ihe 
raging  sea,  to  which  we  can  set  no  bounds,  nor  say  to  it,  hith- 
erto shalt  thou  come  and  no  further.  Sin  is  very  cunning  an^ 
deceitful,  and  does  strangely  gain  upon  men,  when  once  they 
give  way  to  it.  It  is  of  a  very  bewitching  nature,  and  has 
strange  arts  of  address  and  insinuation.  By  giving  way  to 
one  little  vice  after  another,  the  strongest  resolution  may  be 
broken.  'Tis  scarce  imaginable  of  what  force  a  single  bad 
action  is,  to  produce  more.  For  sin  is  very  teeming  and  fruit- 
2 


10 


ful,  and  though  there  be  no  blessing  annexed  to  it,  yet  it  does 
strangely  "  increase  and  multiply."'  These  remarks  confirm 
the  words  which,  centuries  ago,  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  wisest 
of  men,  that  the  beginning  of  sin  is  like  the  letting  out  of 
water  ;  small  at  first,  it  increases  with  fearful  rapidity  and 
violence.  It  is  a  sound  maxim,  then,  to  resist  the  '  begin- 
ning of  sin]  because  we  then  have  most  power.  There- 
fore, *  watch  ye,  stand  fast  in  the  faith,  quit  you  like  men, 
be  strong,'  *  Cease  to  do  evil ;  learn  to  do  well.'  In  a  word, 
1  Fear  God  and  keep  his  commandments,  for  this  is  the 
whole  duty  of  man.'  " 

To  North  Carolina  belongs  the  distinguished  and  imper- 
ishable honor  of  being  the  first  in  declaring  independence, 
and  in  giving  an  impulse  to  the  agonizing  struggle  that  fol- 
lowed upon  the  determination  to  carry  out  the  principles  and 
spirit  of  such  a  declaration.  This  memorable  event  took 
place  in  the  little  village  of  Charlotte,  the  county  seat  of 
Mecklenburg,  on  20th  May,  1775.  On  the  day  previous,  a 
large  concourse  of  people  of  all  ranks  had  assembled,  to  con- 
sult together  as  to  their  duty  in  their  pressing  emergency. — 
A  convention  of  the  representatives  of  the  people  was  then 
formed,  and  regularly  organized.  On  that  day  the  news  of 
the  battle  of  Lexington  came  to  hand  by  express,  and  was 
announced  to  the  assembly.  All  was  excitement  of  the  deep- 
est and  most  intense  interest ;  and  under  the  effect  produced 
by  spirited  and  patriotic  addresses  from  a  number  of  gentle- 
men of  intelligence  and  great  popularity,  "  the  assembly  cried 
out  with  one  voice  :  Let  us  be  independent !  Let  us  declare 
our  independence,  and  defend  it  with  our  lives  and  fortunes." 
The  day  following,  the  declaration  was  formally  introduced 
to  the  Convention  and  by  them  was  unanimously  adopted, 
and  almost  immediately  was  ratified  by  the  multitude  amidst 
the  most  enthusiastic  expressions  of  admiration  and  applause. 
Ten  days  subsequent  to  this,  another  declaration,  manifest- 
ing the  same  principles  and  spirit,  was  adopted  by  the  Con- 
vention. A  copy  of  the  acts  and  doings  of  this  Convention 
was  afterwards  sent  by  express  to  the  members  of  Congress 


11 


from  North  Carolina,  which  Congress  was  then  in  session  af 
Philadelphia.  But  while  the  members  from  North  Carolina 
approved  of  the  spirit  of  their  fellow  citizens,  and  the  tone  of 
their  resolutions,  they,  nevertheless,  thought  them  premature, 
and  did  not  present  them  to  Congress.  Let  it  not  be  forgot- 
ten, however,  that  the  national  Declaration,  which  was  not 
adopted  till  more  than  a  year  after  the  events  to  which  I  have 
alluded,  not  only  expresses  the  same  sentiments,  but  in  some 
parts,  uses  the  same  language  as  of  the  declaration  at  Meck- 
lenburg, and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  it  was,  in  its  general 
tone  and  spirit,  modelled  after  this  admirable  instrument. 

Its  concluding  paragraph,  which  has  so  universally  been 
admired,  is  taken  almost  verbatim  from  the  last  clause  of  the 
3d  Resolution  of  the  first  paper  adopted  at  Charlotte.  More 
than  this :  The  first  declaration  of  independence  by  the  con- 
stituted authority  of  a  State,  was  adopted  by  the  provincial 
Congress  of  North  Carolina,  assembled  at  Halifax,  April  8th, 
1776  ;  and  this  declaration  was  presented  to  the  Continental 
Congress,  May  27th,  1776,  nearly  six  weeks  before  the  nation- 
al declaration.  And  still  more  than  this  ;  if  we  go  back  a 
little  in  date,  we  shall  find  that  the  very  first  blood  shed  in 
North  America  in  defence  of  human  rights  and  the  enjoy- 
ment of  liberty,  was  in  North  Carolina.  This  was  in  the  bat- 
tle on  the  Alamance,  between  Tryon  and  the  u  Regulators," 
May  15th,  1771.  In  a  spirit  of  honest  pride,  then,  we  claim 
the  honor  which  is  fairly  our  due.  May  we,  as  North  Caro- 
linians, never  tarnish  the  fair  fame  of  our  noble  sires  by  the 
adoption  of  false  principles,  or  the  practice  of  shameful  con- 
duct !  May  the  mantle  of  the  fathers  fall  upon  the  sons  ! — 
May  we  ever  prove  faithful  and  true  to  their  sentiments  and 
practice— to  the  cause  of  our  country  and  our  God  ! 

As  I  am  in  principle  and  by  profession  a  Presbyterian,  and 
speak  to-day  as  a  Presbyterian  Minister,  from  a  Presbyterian 
Pulpit,  it  will  not  be  considered  out  of  place  to  remark,  that 
both  at  the  commencement,  and  throughout  the  progress  of 
the  Revolutionary  struggle,  Presbyterians  acted  a  conspicu- 
ous part.    Most  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  Southern  section  of 


12 


our  country,  were  Presbyterians  of  the  straitest  sect,  either 
from  Scotland  or  the  north  of  Ireland,  the  latter  being  descen- 
dants of  the  Scotch,  and  having  been  trained  with  them,  in 
the  same  political,  moral  and  religious  principles.  These  im- 
migrants had  been  rigidly  educated  for  generations,  in  oppo- 
sition to  tyranny,  and  had  always  contended  for  a  proper  pro- 
tection of  the  rights  of  property  and  person,  and  for  freedom 
of  conscience  in  matters  of  religion.  It  has  been  said  of  this 
people,  and  particularly  those  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  who 
are  usually  designated  by  the  title  of  Scotch-Irish,  that,  pre- 
vious to  their  emigration,  "  they  had  advanced  far  in  the 
knowledge  of  human  rights  ;  were  in  the  high  road  to  re- 
publicanism ;  in  fact,  were  already  republicans,  without,  per- 
haps, being  aware  of  the  lengths  they  had  advanced.  In  Eu- 
rope they  contended  for  a  limited  monarchy  through  all  the 
troubles  of  the  seventeenth  century.  In  America,  their  des- 
cendants, defining  what  a  limited  monarchy  meant,  found  it 
to  signify  rulers  chosen  by  the  people  for  a  limited  time,  and 
with  limited  powers  ;  and  declared  themselves  independent 
of  the  British  crown."  When,  therefore,  a  people  of  such  stern 
and  noble  virtues  were  called  upon  by  their  change  of  coun- 
try and  circumstances,  to  decide  between  tyranny  and  the 
rights  of  conscience,  they  quickly  determined  as  to  duty. — 
They  were  the  first  to  take  up  arms  in  support  of  free  gov- 
ernment, and  the  last  to  lay  them  down.  The  moment  they 
"  were  placed  in  circumstances  calculated  to  provoke  inde- 
pendence of  action,  that  moment  did  they  declare  most  sol- 
emnly and  unitedly  that  they  '  are  and  of  right  ought  to  be, 
a  sovereign  and  self-governing  association,  under  the  control 
of  no  power,  other  than  that  of  God,  and  the  general  govern- 
ment of  the  Congress.' "  It  is  true  that  some  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian emigrants  from  Scotland  pursued  a  different  course. — 
But  they  are  not,  on  this  account,  to  be  too  hastily  censured. 
Theirs  were  peculiar  circumstances.  Their  conduct  arose 
more  from  the  stern  integrity  of  their  religious  principles, 
which  led  them  to  swear  to  their  own  hurt,  rather  than  from* 
any  desire  to  uphold  an  oppressive  government,  or  to  oppose 


13 


the  progress  of  free  principles.  They  maintained  mistaken 
notions  of  the  nature  of  the  solemn  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
British  throne,  which  was  forced  upon  them  previous  to  their 
departure  for  their  distant  home.  Doubtless  they  were  igno- 
rant of  their  true  position  in  their  altered  circumstances,  and 
"  the  power  of  an  oath  over  their  consciences  was  skilfully 
used  to  keep  them  to  their  allegiance."  Happily,  their  de- 
scendants were  free  from  the  restrictions  that  bound  the  fa- 
thers, and  in  this  many  of  the  latter  rejoiced  greatly  in  spirit. 
The  great  principles  of  their  ancestors  reign  in  the  children, 
who  are  now  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  States,  and  join 
heartily  in  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  that  guards  our 
liberties,  and,  if  necessity  demanded,  would  certainly  shed 
the  last  drop  of  their  blood  in  its  defence. 

It  would  seem  impossible  that  an  impartial  observer  of  the 
rise  and  progress  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  could  fail  to 
be  convinced  that  Presbyterians,  in  general,  were  its  most  ac- 
tive and  efficient  supporters.  I  feel  no  hesitancy  in  express- 
ing it  as  my  unwavering  conviction,  that  to  their  religious  and 
political  opinions  and  principles,  and  to  their  promptness  and 
energy  in  carrying  them  out  at  the  expense  of  their  fortunes 
and  their  lives,  we  are  mainly  indebted  for  the  most  free  and 
pure  form  of  government  the  world  has  ever  seen.  As  we 
have  already  observed,  they  had  been  trained  in  Republican- 
ism previous  to  their  emigration  to  this  country.  A  monarchy 
was  not  fitted  to  the  full  development  of  their  views  and  pre- 
ferences. Providence  so  ordered  it  that  they  should  seek  a 
home  in  western  wilds,  where  they  might  show  to  the  world 
what  an  oppressed  race  of  Christian  heroes  might  do  and  be- 
come, who,  out  of  regard  to  the  authority  of  Heaven,  and  re- 
spect to  their  rights,  were  determined  to  be  free.  Having 
furnished  a  basis  for  the  structure  of  the  British  Constitution 
itself  to  rest  upon,  they  came  over  the  wide  waters  that  they 
might  erect  a  perfect  and  beautiful  Temple,  whose  walls 
should  be  called  salvation,  and  whose  gates  should  be  Praise  ; 
I  and  to  which  all  nations  should  come,  to  admire  its  symme- 


11 

try,  and  to  do  honor  to  the  wisdom,  patriotism,  and  piety  of 
its  founders. 

In  confirmation  of  what  is  here  advocated  respecting  the 
efficient  agency  of  Presbyterians  in  promoting  the  progress 
of  free  principles  in  America,  it  would  be  easy  to  adduce  the 
strongest  and  most  invulnerable  testimony.  The  Ministers 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  were  the  foremost  in  concocting 
plans,  and  in  leading  to  concentrated  and  efficient  action  in 
the  dark  hour  of  our  country's  peril.  They  were  found  in 
the  councils,  and  conventions,  and  general  gatherings  of  the 
people,  on  almost  all  occasions,  stimulating  their  patriotism, 
and  endeavoring  to  remove  the  difficulty  as  to  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  British  Government  which  some  of  their 
countrymen  had  been  forced  to  take,  showing  that  allegiance 
and  protection  are  inseparable,  and  urging  to  united  and  har- 
monious effort  against  the  foes  of  human  rights  and  religious 
freedom.  Many  of  them  went  with  the  army  to  act  as 
Chaplains,  and  subjected  themselves  to  the  various  dangers 
and  exposures  of  a  camp  and  soldier's  life.  One  especially, 
James  Hal]  of  Iredell,  was  both  a  preacher  and  a  soldier — a 
captain  at  the  head  of  a  company,  and  Chaplain  of  the  regi- 
ment, in  both  of  which  offices  he  was  acceptable.  A  num- 
ber of  sermons  of  different  Presbyterian  Ministers  are  now 
extant,  delivered  with  a  particular  reference  to  the  state  of 
affairs  during  the  Revolution,  which  abound  with  the  loftiest 
and  purest  sentiments  of  patriotism,  and  evince  the  firmest 
and  most  unwavering  determination  in  support  of  the  cause 
of  Liberty  and  their  country.  In  fact,  such  was  their  inces- 
sant activity  and  zeal  in  exciting  the  enthusiasm  of  those 
under  their  influence,  and  of  thwarting  the  plans  and  devices 
of  the  enemy,  that  they  became,  in  many  instances,  the  ob- 
jects of  the  emmissaries  of  the  British  throne ;  they  were 
hunted  as  David  was  hunted  by  Saul ;  their  houses  were 
watched  by  day  and  night ;  their  property  and  the  peace  of 
their  families  were  violated  ;  in  some  cases,  they  were  shot 
down  in  cold  blood,  simply  on  account  of  their  burning  lovef 


15 


to  their  country,  and  their  indefatigable  exertions  in  defence 
of  its  security  and  happiness  ;  others  were  saved  from  so 
dreadful  an  end,  but  escaped  captivity  and  death  only  by  the 
special  Providence  of  God. 

One  of  the  number  of  patriotic  men  who  delivered  spirited 
addresses  to  the  people  assembled  at  Charlotte,  May,  1775, 
and  under  the  excitement  of  whose  earnest  appeals,  the 
multitude  cried  with  one  voice,  Let  us  be  independent,  was 
a  Presbyterian  Minister.  "Of  the  members  of  the  Conven- 
tion that  proclaimed  Independence,  one  was  a  Minister  of  the 
Gospel,  and  nine  were  elders  in  the  Church;  and  all  in  some 
way  connected  with  the  seven  Churches  and  congregations 
that  embraced  the  whole  county  of  Mecklenburg."  A  Pres- 
byterian Minister  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  which 
formed  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  in 
1776,  and  is  said  to  have  formed  one  of  the  articles  of  that 
Constitution,  and  to  have  taken  an  active  part  in  the  delibe- 
rations of  the  Convention.  And  here  I  will  introduce  a  most 
interesting  and  thrilling  incident  connected  with  our  Revolu- 
tionary history,  taken  from  an  address  delivered  at  the  laying 
of  the  corner-stone  of  a  new  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Prince- 
ton, Ky.,  by  Rev.  S.  S.  Templeton  : — On  the  morning  of 
our  national  birth-day,  when  the  Declaration  of  American 
Independence  was  made,  when  the  committee,  previously 
appointed  to  draft  that  instrument,  made  their  report  through 
their  chairman,  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  when  it  was  read, 
the  house  paused — hesitated — silence,  deep  and  solemn  si- 
lence, reigned  throughout  the  hall  of  the  spacious  capitol. — 
Every  countenance  indicated  that  deep  meditation  was  at 
work ;  and  the  solemn  resolutions  were  calling  for  double 
energy.  At  this  fearful  crisis,  when  the  destiny  of  our  coun- 
try seemed  to  be  suspended  upon  the  action  of  the  moment, 
the  silence,  the  painful  silence,  was  broken.  A  n  aged  patri- 
arch arose — a  venerable  and  stately  form,  his  head  white 
with  the  frosts  of  many  years.  He  cast  on  the  assembly  a 
•  look  of  inexpressible  interest  and  unconquerable  determina- 
tion 9  while  on  his  visage  the  hue  of  age  was  lost  in  the 


16 


burning  patriotism  that  fired  his  cheek.  c  There  is,'  said 
he,  '  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men,  a  nick  of  time.  We  per- 
ceive it  now  before  us.  That  noble  instrument  upon  your 
table,  which  ensures  immortality  to  its  author,  should  be 
subscribed  this  morning,  by  every  pen  in  the  house.  He 
who  will  not  respond  to  its  accents,  and  strain  every  nerve 
to  carry  into  effect  its  provisions,  is  unworthy  the  name  of  a 
freeman.  Although  these  grey  hairs  must  soon  descend  into 
the  sepulchre,  I  would  infinitely  rather  they  should  descend 
thither  by  the  hands  of  the  public  executioner,  than  desert  at 
this  crisis,  the  sacred  cause  of  my  country.'  The  patriarch 
sat  down  and  fort  with  the  declaration  was  signed  by  every 
member  present.  Who  was  that  venerable  patriarch?  you 
ask.  I  answer,  it  was  John  Witherspoon  of  New  Jersey, 
whose  name  is  found  among  the  signers  of  the  Declaration, 
the  Magna  Charta  of  our  Nation's  independence.  Yes,  it 
was  John  Witherspoon,  a  distinguished  Minister  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Knox,  the 
great  Scotch  Reformer." 

There  is  another  point  connected  with  this  subject,  which, 
in  a  discourse  like  this,  I  cannot  allow  to  pass  unnoticed.  It 
is  this  ;  that  between  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  that  of  the  U.  S.  there  is  a  close  and  striking  re- 
semblance. Indeed,  so  close  and  striking  is  the  similarity 
that  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  framers  of  the  latter 
were  familiar  with  the  former,  and  were  assisted  and  guided 
in  their  work  by  its  main  features.  In  a  speech  of  the  Hon. 
W.  C.  Preston,  of  S.  C,  are  these  remarkable  sentiments  : 
"  Certainly,-it  is  the  most  remarkable  and  singular  coinci- 
dence," says  he,  "that  the  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  should  bear  such  a  close  and  striking  resemblance 
to  the  political  Constitution  of  our  country.  This  may  be 
regarded  as  an  earnest  of  our  beloved  national  union.  We 
fondly  regard  our  Federal  Constitution  as  the  purest  speci- 
men of  republican  government  that  the  world  ever  saw;  and 
on  the  same  pure  principles  of  republicanism,  as  its  basis,  # 
we  find  established  the  Constitution  of  this  Republican 


17 


Church.  The  two  may  be  supposed  to  be  formed  after  the 
same  model." 

Let  it  be  remarked,  however,  that  the  Constitution  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  was  first,  and  not  last.  The  great  fun- 
damental principles  of  this  Constitution  were  adopted  by  the 
Church  of  Scotland  from  the  earliest  periods  of  the  Reforma- 
tion from  Popery,  and  were  recognized  in  her  earliest  stan- 
dards. Amid  many  troubles  incident  to  those  times,  they  were 
enabled,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to  construct  and  model  this 
Constitution  "  according  to  the  word  of  God,  and  not  accord- 
ing to  the  will  of  earthly  rulers."  Again  and  again  did  they 
solemnly  league  and  covenant  together  in  support  of  its  glori- 
ous truths,  and  to  this  day,  they  have  been  honored  of  God  in 
maintaining  and  defending  them,  amid  many  perils  and  perse- 
cutions. But  the  more  formal  settlement  and  perfecting  of  the 
Presbyterian  standards,  including  the  Form  of  Government, 
was  left  to  the  Westminster  Assembly  of  divines,  in  which 
the  commissioners  from  Scotland  exerted  a  directing  and 
controlling  influence.  This  was  in  the  year  1647.  Almost 
immediately  upon  their  completion,  these  standards  were 
unanimously  approved  and  adopted  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  continue  to  be  the  stan- 
dards of  that  Church  until  this  day.  The  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Ireland  have  adopted  the  same  standards ;  also, 
all  the  Presbyterian  Churches  in  the  United  States  have  re- 
ceived and  adopted  them,  with  the  single  exception  of  the 
alteration  of  those  articles  which  related  to  the  power  of  the 
civil  magistrate  in  matters  of  religion. 

The  fact  therefore  is,  that  the  Constitution  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  is  the  model  according  to  which  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  was  formed.  In  support  of  this 
opinion,  I  will  present  you  with  an  extract  of  a  speech  by 
Dr.  Win.  Harriss,  Chairman  of  a  meeting  of  the  friends  of  the 
Free  Church  of  Scotland,  at  Philadelphia,  a  few  years  ago. 
He  says,  "we  have  the  authority  of  the  late  Chief  Justice 
Tilghman,  for  stating  that  the  framers  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  were  (chiefly  through  the  agency  of  Dr. 
Witherspoon,  who  was  one  of  them)  greatly  indebted  to  the 
3 


18 

standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Scotland,  in  modelling 
that  admirable  instrument,  under  which  we  have  enjoyed  more 
than  half  a  century  of  unparalleled  national  prosperity." 

It  has  been  customary  for  Infidels,  and  a  certain  class  of 
political  demagogues,  and  some  spiritual  monarchists  and 
aristocrats,  to  decry  and  abuse  every  thing  Presbyterian,  Cat- 
vinistic,  or  Puritanical.  They  laugh  mightily  at  what  they 
call  the  stern  virtues  of  the  Puritan  Fathers,  and  pretend  to 
consider  their  religion  as  unfit  for  a  gentleman.  We  pity  the 
pretensions  of  such  men.  They  are  certainly  welcome  to 
their  exclusive  claims  to  gentility.  We  glory  in  our  religion 
and  principles,  which  were  bequeathed  to  us  by  the  best  of 
benefactors,  who,  like  the  worthies  of  old,  w  out  of  weakness 
were  made  strong,  waxed  valiant  in  fight,  turned  to  flight 
the  armies  of  the  aliens." 

If  facts  are  allowed  to  speak,  it  is  plain  beyond  the  shadow 
of  a  doubt,  that  the  principles  of  the  men  who  are  thus  de- 
rided and  hated,  have  made  tyrants  tremble  upon  their 
thrones  ;  have  given  laws  and  liberty  to  England,  even  upon 
the  testimony  of  Hume  himself ;  have  obtained  and  secured 
us  in  the  protection  of  our  property  and  lives  ;  and  imparted 
the  only  right  views  of  laws  and  government,  and  freedom 
of  conscience,  to  the  civilized  world.  The  enemies  of  such 
a  noble  and  chivalrous  race,  would,  probably,  if  all  things 
were  favorable,  be  willing  to  adopt  and  carry  out  the  motto 
of  the  house  of  Stuart,  "  No  Prelate,  no  King"  Royalists 
at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  according  to  ac- 
credited history,  they  were  its  bitter  and  uncompromising  op- 
posers  throughout.  Even  now,  retaining  in  a  great  measure 
their  old  prejudices,  and  being  republicanized  only  in  part, 
they  are  heard  not  unfrequently  to  speak  disparagingly  of 
our  government,  while  they  extol  the  government  of  Eng- 
land as  embodying  the  very  perfection  of  excellence  and 
beauty.  In  fact,  men  who  will  indulge  their  narrow  views  so 
far  as  to  scout  at  the  Reformation,  and  to  denounce  it  as  "a 
schism,  a  sin,  and  a  deadly  heresy,"  must  needs  speak  dis- 
paragingly of  our  free  institutions  ;  for  the  two  are  intimate- 
ly and  inseparably  connected — they  live  and  reign,  or  decay 


19 


and  fall  together.  It  is  certainly  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that 
from  among  those  who,  all  their  lives,  have  been  subject  to 
a  spiritual  monarchy  in  matters  of  religion,  some  at  least 
should  show  a  decided  leaning  to  the  same  form  of  govern- 
ment in  civil  matters,  and  should  love  England  more,  and 
America  less.  But  we  shall  search  in  vain  for  the  record  of 
a  single  Presbyterian  Minister,  who,  like  the  Ministers  of  the 
State,  judged  the  advocates  of  the  Revolution  as  rebels,  and 
delivered  them  over,  not  only  to  the  gallows,  but  to  the  dam- 
nation of  hell,  for  their  resistance  to  the  oppression  of  the 
British  throne. 

It  was  not  to  any  peculiar  physical  or  intellectual  advan- 
tages that  our  ancestry  were  indebted  for  success  in  their 
noble  undertaking  to  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  tyranny  a  free 
and  enlightened  government ;  but  to  the  strength  and  energy 
of  those  sterling  religious  and  moral  principles  which  they 
had  been  taught  as  the  first  lessons  of  lisping  infancy.  As 
we  have  already  observed,  their  religious  creed  gave  com- 
plexion and  character  to  their  political  notions,  and  was,  in 
truth,  the  foundation  of  their  political  creed.  It  is  often  said, 
that  the  times  make  the  men.  We  believe  it  more  correct  to 
say,  the  men  make  the  times.  Or  still  better,  perhaps,  that 
the  times  only  give  occasion  to  the  favorable  development  of 
the  principles  necessary  to  any  pressing  emergency.  The 
war  of  the  Revolution  was  neither  begun  nor  carried  out,  un- 
der the  influence  of  sudden  passion,  or  the  violent  ebullition 
of  feelings  of  mere  prejudice  or  intemperate  zeal,  which  rose 
up  in  support  only  of  interested  plans  or  party  preferences. 
It  was  not  for  "  light  and  transient  causes"  that  our  fathers 
resolved  to  abolish  the  forms  of  government  to  which  they 
had  been  accustomed.  It  was  not  until  "  a  long  train  of 
abuses  and  usurpations  evinced  a  design  to  reduce  them  un- 
der absolute  despotism,"  that  they  felt  it  "  to  be  their  right,  as 
it  was  their  duty,  to  throw  off  such  government  and  to  pro- 
vide new  guards  for  their  future  security."  The  war  of  the 
Revolution,  then,  was  a  contest  for  principles— for  those  en- 
deared and  "  inalienable  rights"  with  which  our  Creator  has 
been  pleased  to  endow  his  rational  creatures. 


20 


The  question  now  arises,  whence  did  these  men  derive 
their  principles  7  The  question  is  as  easily  answered  as  ask- 
ed ?  In  the  language  of  one  who  has  spoken  well  on  this 
point — "  Their  moral  principles  were  derived  from  the  words 
of  Him  who  lives  and  abides  forever  ;  and  the  commands  of 
God,  and  the  awful  retributions  of  Eternity,  gave  force  to 
these  principles,  which  became  a  living  power,  and  a  controll- 
ing influence.  Their  children  were  early  taught  to  read,  and 
exercised  in  reading  the  Bible  every  day ;  and  became  fa- 
miliar with  the  word  of  God  in  the  family,  in  the  school,  and 
the  house  devoted  to  the  worship  of  the  Almighty  God.  The 
circle  of  their  instruction  was  circumscribed ;  but  the  chil- 
dren were  taught  to  speak  the  truth,  and  defend  it — to  keep 
a  conscience  and  fear  God — the  foundation  of  good  citizens, 
and  truly  great  men."  The  testimony  which  is  here  given 
as  to  the  source  from  which  our  ancestors  derived  their  prin- 
ciples, is  the  same  as  that  of  all  intelligent  and  honest  men. 
Hon.  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  Bunker  Hill  address,  distinctly 
remarks  concerning  the  American  Colonists,  that  "  the  Bible 
came  with  them."  And  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  to  the  free 
and  universal  use  of  the  Bible  it  is  to  be  ascribed  that  in 
that  age  men  were  indebted  for  right  views  of  civil  liberty. 
The  Bible  is  a  book  of  faith  and  a  book  of  doctrine  ;  but  it 
is  also  a  book  which  teaches  man  his  individual  responsi- 
bility ;  his  own  dignity  and  equality  with  his  fellow-man. 
In  an  address  before  the  American  Bible  Society  a  few  years 
ago,  by  Hon.  John  Cotton  Smith,  its  venerable  President,  it 
was  stated  as  "  an  historical  fact  to  be  ever  remembered,  that 
the  national  Constitution  itself  owes  its  existence  to  that  spirit 
of  mutual  concession  of  its  framers,  which,  after  months  of 
fruitless  discussion,  was  produced  by  the  blessing  of  God  up- 
on a  portion  of  his  word,  selected  and  eloquently  enforced  by 
the  immortal  Franklin,  and  which,  like  oil  on  the  troubled 
waters,  allayed  the  spirit  of  discord  and  brought  their  delibe- 
rations to  a  united  and  glorious  result,  thus  evincing  to  an  ad- 
miring world  that  the  adorable  author  of  the  Bible,  who  had 
borne  the  American  people  triumphantly  through  the  contest 
for  national  sovereignty,  was  still  their  Almighty  Guardian." 


21 


I  may  also  here  introduce  the  remark  of  Hon.  Tlico.  Fre- 
linghuysenj  in  a  public  address  in  which  he  alludes,  in  terms 
of  high  commendation,  to  the  first  American  Congress ; 
"  That  Congress,"  said  he,  "  was  a  Bible  Congress ;  Wash- 
ington was  a  Bible  General ;  the  Revolutionary  army  was, 
to  a  great  extent,  a  Bible  Soldiery."  And  we  may  add,  that 
now,  looking  back  to  what  we  once  were,  and  reflecting  up- 
on what  we  now  are,  and  casting  the  mind  forward  to  what 
we  may  yet  be  in  the  providence  of  the  Almighty,  we  must 
feel  that  we  are  indebted  for  all  our  blessings  and  hopes,  to 
the  faith,  doctrines,  and  principles  of  the  Bible.  Yes  ;  our 
fathers  brought  to  these  shores  the  Bible — the  open  Bible — 
and  with  it,  the  very  core  of  the  reformation.  And  at  this 
day,  the  same  blessed  volume,  together  with  the  spirit  of  free 
inquiry  engendered  and  cherished  by  its  elevating  and  puri- 
fying truths,  constitute  the  only  sure  stay  of  our  political  and 
religious  rights.  The  Bible — yes,  the  Bible — is  '£  the  beacon 
word  of  Liberty."  It  is  "  that  on  which  Freemen  live  ;"  and 
in  the  maintenance  of  its  unclouded  and  ever-enduring  prin- 
ciples and  truths,  our  ancestors  perilled  their  all.  May  we 
prove  the  worthy  descendants  of  such  worthy  sires  ;  and  may 
we  transmit  the  sacred  deposit  received  from  their  hands,  un- 
impaired to  those  who  shall  come  after  us,  that  they,  in  their 
turn,  may  hand  down  the  precious  treasure,  unalloyed,  to  the 
generations  following ! 

It  is  easy  to  see,  from  the  considerations  that  have  been 
presented,  to  what  we  are  to  look  for  the  progress  of  right 
views  of  civil  liberty,  and  upon  what  we  are  to  depend,  un- 
der God,  for  the  stability  of  our  Institutions.  Principles,  not 
men,  must  govern  this  country,  and  the  world.  And  these 
principles  must  flow  from  the  same  source  from  which  our 
Revolutionary  Patriots  derived  them — that  is,  from  the  Bible. 
It  would  be  interesting  and  profitable  to  dwell  particularly 
upon  this  point ;  but  the  time  will  allow  me  to  give  it  only  a 
thought  or  two. 

I  believe  it  to  be  a  sound  maxim,  that  "  all  human  institu- 
tions, like  those  who  form  them,  contain  within  themselves 
the  elements  of  their  own  destruction."   As  in  the  human 


22 


frame,  so  in  the  body  politic,  we  must  not  only  guard  against 
every  cause  of  disease,  but  must  seek,  by  unwearied  care 
and  circumspection,  to  promote  a  healthful  action  of  the  sys- 
tem. The  most  we  have  to  fear  is  from  ourselves,  and  from 
that  general  corruption  of  morals  consequent  upon  casting 
off  the  fear  of  the  Almighty,  and  becoming  heedless  of  the 
restraints  of  a  general  and  sanctified  intelligence.  No  gov- 
ernment can  go  on  of  itself,  like  a  self-propelling  machine. 
Our  Laws  and  Institutions,  though  the  wisest  and  best  in  the 
world,  have  no  intrinsic  efficacy  to  secure  our  safety  and 
happiness.  There  must  be  intelligence  and  virtue  both  to 
direct  and  control  their  operation  ;  or  in  the  process  of  time, 
they  will  be  as  "  the  spider's  most  attenuated  thread."  It 
was  a  forcible  remark  of  one  of  our  most  distinguished  and 
eloquent  statesmen,  that  "  government  is  not  a  mere  piece  of 
mechanism,  that  needs  but  to  be  wound  up  right,  to  go  right 
forever — but  it  is  a  moral  process,  calling  for  good  intentions, 
for  honesty,  for  good  conduct."  It  should  be  remarked, 
however,  that  for  the  production  of  real  honesty  of  purpose 
and  uprightness  of  conduct,  the  influence  of  true  religion  is 
indispensable.  This  is  a  selfish  world,  and  often,  the  indi- 
vidual who  boasts  the  loudest  of  his  patriotism  and  honesty, 
is  under  the  control  of  a  decidedly  partizan  spirit,  and  is  ac- 
tuated by  the  most  supreme  and  ungovernable  narrowness. 
On  this  account  we  hold,  that  our  only  safety  is  in  that  im- 
pressive sense  of  religious  obligation  on  which  true  virtue  is 
based  ;— in  "that  fear  of  Heaven,  which  expels  all  other 
fear,"  and  in  that  conscientious  "regard  to  duty,  which  tran- 
scends all  other  regard,"  and  which  is  the  result  of  a  deep 
seated  principle  of  inward  reverence  for  divine  authority. 
This  is  the  "  Rock  on  which  we  build  ;  all  is  sea  besides." 

In  speaking  of  the  means  by  which  freedom  and  security 
may  be  made  compatible,  Gov.  Hammond,  in  a  message  to 
the  Legislature  of  S.  C,  in  Dec.  1844,  remarks  :  k'  Ignorance 
and  free  institutions  cannot  co-exist.  An  ignorant  people  can 
never  long  have  any  other  than  a  despotic  government. — 
They  are  not  fit  to  be  free  ;  and  though  they  may  possibly 
achieve,  they  cannot  maintain  their  liberty."    To  the  same 


23 


effect  are  the  remarks  of  an  intelligent  and  experienced 
American  gentleman,  in  a  book  on  Education  :  "  Our  very 
freedom,"  says  he,  "  will  prove  our  bane,  unless  the  people, 
the  original  source  of  all  power,  are  so  far  enlightened  as  to 
be  able  to  exercise  the  various  functions  of  power  aright. 
It  is  possible  that  a  nation  may  be  well  governed,  where  the 
body  of  the  people  are  ignorant ;  but  it  must  be  a  govern- 
ment in  which  the  people  have  no  choice."  The  intelligent 
and  candid  author  of  "Democracy  in  America,"  has  given  a 
similar  testimony.  In  seeking  for  causes  adequate  to  the 
production  of  the  marked  difference  there  is  between  the 
state  and  condition  of  North  and  South  America,  he  admits 
that  "the  American  laws  are  good,  and  that  to  them  must  be 
attributed  a  large  portion  of  the  success  which  attends  the 
government  of  this  country:  but  he  does  not  believe  them  to 
be  the  principal  cause  of  that  success."  He  therefore,  attri- 
butes the  order  and  prosperity  that  exist  here,  to  the  manners 
of  the  people,  i.  e.  as  he  understands  the  word,  to  those  mo- 
ral and  intellectual  characteristics  which  grow  out  of  their 
practical  education,  and  the  influence  of  religion,  which,  in 
his  own  forcible  language,  "has  been  most  thoroughly  amal- 
gamated with  liberty."  "  Too  much  importance,"  says  he, 
"is  attributed  to  legislation,  too  little  to  manners.  I  am  con- 
vinced that  the  most  advantageous  situation  and  the  best 
possible  laws  cannot  maintain  a  constitution  in  spite  of  the 
manners  of  a  country  ;  while  the  latter  may  turn  the  most 
unfavorable  positions  and  the  worst  laws  to  some  advantage. 
Despotism  may  govern  without  faith,  but  liberty  cannot." 

If  it  be  true,  then,  that  the  only  sure  palladium  of  our  lib- 
erties is,  the  intelligence  and  virtue  of  the  people,  we  should 
seek  thoroughly  to  educate  them  in  right  principles  of  gov- 
ernment and  morality.  But  it  will  appear  from  what  has 
been  said,  that  in  a  correct  system  of  education  is  necessarily 
involved,  not  only  the  cultivation  of  the  intellectual,  but  also 
the  moral  powers  of  man.  Simple  knowledge,  without  the 
wholesome  restraint  of  correct  habits  and  virtuous  principles, 
is  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing.  It  is  useful  or  pernicious, 
according  as  the  passions  of  men  are  restrained  and  sub- 


24 


dued,  or  are  left  to  all  the  lawlessness  of  natural  and  unbri- 
dled corruption.  It  has  been  compared  to  the  power  of  the 
horse  which,  when  held  in  and  directed  by  bit  and  bridle,  is 
useful  in  bearing  burdens,  and  drawing  loads  ;  but  when  un- 
restrained, breaks  his  bridle,  and  dashes  to  pieces  the  carriage 
he  draws.  It  is  like  the  water  of  a  large  pond,  which,  if 
properly  conducted  by  trenches,  renders  the  surrounding 
fields  fertile;  but  when  it  bursts  its  banks,  sweeps  every  thing 
before  it  with  a  desolating  overflow.  It  is  like  a  newly-con- 
structed and  perfectly  arrayed  steam-vessel,  which,  with  a 
steady  Engineer  and  trustful  pilot,  ploughs  her  unobstructed 
way  and  accomplishes  with  satisfaction  her  journey ;  but 
with  an  unskilful  pilot,  or  drunken  or  careless  Engineer, 
spreads  consternation  and  ruin  around  her. 

Knowledge,  then,  to  be  useful,  must  be  directed  and  con- 
trolled by  religious  principle.  We  avow  our  unwavering 
conviction  that,  in  a  country  like  ours,  the  heart,  as  well  as 
the  mind,  must  be  educated,  and  that  upon  this  depends  our 
safety  and  happiness  as  a  nation.  We  would  seek  to  enrich 
the  minds  of  our  whole  people  with  the  pure,  enlightening, 
refining,  and  life  giving  principles  of  Christianity.  And  in 
expressing  this  conviction,  we  do  nothing  more  than  did  the 
immortal  Washington,  who,  in  his  Farewell  Address,  solemn- 
ly admonished  his  countrymen,  that  "  of  all  the  dispositions 
which  give  prosperity  to  a  nation,  Religion  and  morality 
are  indispensable  supports" 

In  conclusion  then,  we  would  say,  that  in  opposition  to 
the  liege  adherents  of  Rome  and  the  enemies  of  our  country 
and  of  our  Protestant  religion  and  Protestant  government, 
we  contend,  as  our  fathers  contended,  for  an  open  Bible,  and 
for  a  thorough  indoctrination  of  our  children,  and  youth, 
and  people  generally,  in  the  liberty  and  purity  of  its  truths. 
This,  and  this  only,  will  curb  the  maddened  passions  of  men; 
it  will  guide  and  moderate  their  desires — hush  the  raging 
billows  of  popular  violence — give  efficiency  to  our  laws — 
check  extravagance,  dissipation  and  revelry — "impart  gene* 
rous  and  lofty  sentiments — a  high  and  controlling  sense  of 
duty — force  of  character  to  meet  responsibilities,  and  firm- 


25 


ness  to  encounter  trials/'  We  would  therefore  resolve,  in  the 
spirit  and  power  of  its  Heavenly  author,  to  live  by  the  Bible, 
and,  if  need  be,  to  die  for  the  Bible. 

And  let  it  be  observed,  that  the  importance  of  the  educa- 
tion for  which  we  contend,  is  increasing  every  year  in  pro- 
portion to  the  vast  influx  of  emigrants  from  foreign  shores, 
he  increase  of  our  native  population,  and  the  expansion  of 
our  people  over  a  wider  territory.  The  recent  famine  and 
consequent  sickness  in  some  parts  of  Europe,  have  quickened 
emigration  to  this  country  to  an  almost  incalculable  degree. 
It  is  said  that  during  the  last  two  months  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  persons  from  Ireland  alone,  left  for  Ameri- 
ca, and  that  "the  extent  of  the  exodus  seems  only  to  be  lim- 
ited by  the  means  of  getting  away."  An  intelligent  Clergy- 
man of  the  U.  S.,  writing  from  Ireland,  May  20th,  1847,  says: 
"  The  ports  are  overrun  with  people  going  to  America.  The 
munificent  generosity  of  our  countrymen,  in  sending  them 
so  many  cargoes  of  bread  stuffs,  has  stimulated  emigration 
to  the  States.  Among  the  emigrants  from  the  North  of  Ire- 
land, there  will  be  found  many  industrious  and  worthy  fami- 
lies, that  are  a  real  loss  to  their  own  country.  But  the  mass 
of  those  who  go  from  the  Romish  districts,  are  without  instruc- 
tion, without  religious  principle,  without  habits  of  industry, 
without  any  thing  that  might  fit  them  to  earn  a  comfortable 
livelihood,  either  at  home  or  abroad."  Ah,  what  would  have 
been  the  effect,  had  the  same  amount  of  vice  and  ignorance, 
now  sent  in  masses  from  Europe,  been  sent  to  little  James- 
town, or  the  Plymouth  Rock,  or  the  Carolinas  ? 

If  at  any  future  period  of  our  history  as  a  nation,  we 
should,  in  a  great  measure,  become  imbued  with  the  princi- 
ples and  practice  of  Infidelity  ;  if  in  a  moment  of  inconside- 
ration,  we  should  renounce  our  allegiance  to  the  Almighty, 
and  refuse  obedience  to  his  wholesome  restrictions ;  if  we 
.  should  generally,  neglect  the  religious  and  moral  training  of 
the  children  and  youth  of  the  land,  and  with  them,  discard 
the  Sabbath  and  the  sanctuary  ;  if  our  young  men  should 
become  wild  and  ungovernable,  intemperate,  profane,  and 
dissolute,  mocking  at  the  counsels  of  their  fathers,  and  des- 
4 


26 


pising  to  obey  the  instructions  of  their  mothers;  if  our  daugh- 
ters should  be  trained  to  habits  of  extravagance  and  folly 
and  become  haughty  and  vain;  if  men  in  high  places  should 
become  generally  depraved  and  dissolute  ; — then  may  Icha- 
bod  be  written  upon  our  banners,  and  walls,  and  bulwarks, 
and  palaces,  and  upon  the  posts  of  the  doors  of  our  houses. 
The  glory  is  departed  !  The  ardent  and  cherished  hopes 
of  millions  will  be  disappointed.  The  beautiful  temple  of 
Liberty,  which  our  ancestors  reared  at  such  an  immense 
sacrifice  of  treasure  and  life,  will  tumble  into  ruins.  And 
it  may  truly  be  said,  that  "  If  freedom  shrieked  as  Koscius- 
ko fell,  what  will  be  her  emotions  when  she  sees  the  nation 
fall  for  which  Kosciusko  considered  his  blood  a  sacrifice  al- 
most too  mean  to  be  offered." 

Then,  "let  us  not  be  high-minded,  but  fear.  Let  us  stand 
in  awe,  and  sin  not.  Let  us  bless  the  Lord  for  his  benefits  ; 
for  He  is  a  great  God  and  terrible,  and  He  alone  doeth  won- 
drous things.  Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation  :  but  sin  is  a 
reproach  to  any  people."  1  'Some  trust  in  chariots,  and  some 
in  horses  :  but  we  will  remember  the  name  of  the  Lord  our 
God." 

God  bless  our  native  land, 
Firm  may  she  ever  stand 

Through  storm  and  night ! 
When  the  wild  tempests  rave, 
Ruler  of  wind  and  wave  ! 
Do  thou  our  country  save, 

By  thy  great  might. 

For  her  our  prayer  shall  rise, 
To  God  above  the  skies  ; 

On  him  we  wait : 
Thou  who  hast  heard  each  sigh 
Watching  each  weeping  eye, 
Be  thou  forever  nigh  : 

God  save  the  State  ! — 


N'C        9?5.6     Z993  1841 


N«C  Pamphlets 


\4 


975,6  Z9S3 


1841-59 

342394 


volume  no?«  ***  nTncuI;tIB 


